Dover's talking Christmas tree moving to the North Pole

DOVER — The living Christmas tree in Henry Law Park will be removed and taken to the “North Pole” before spring arrives, after 27 years of shining brightly during the holiday season.

During the tree lighting ceremony at the end of November, the tree announced it would be moved to Santa's Workshop because he had grown too tall for the Garrison City.

“Someone very special has noticed me when he flies over Dover on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus,” the tree said at the ceremony. “He has watched me grow so big and tall over these years and a special thing has happened. He called the City of Dover and asked if I could come up to the North Pole.”

Urban Tree Service in Rochester was planning to remove the tree from the park days before the recent snowstorm, but was rescheduled. Now, because of the two feet of snow surrounding the tree after last weekend's blizzard, the tree will “stick” around Dover for a few more weeks.

“I don't think the Christmas tree is going to go anywhere soon,” Recreation Director Gary Bannon said because of the high snow banks along the roads. “I don't think that they will be able to get the trucks close enough to move (the tree) once it comes down.”

Once the roads are cleared and the snow melts to a more reasonable level, Bannon said the tree will make its trek to the North Pole to become Santa's official Christmas tree.

“We want to remove it while the ground is still frozen so we do not make a mess,” Bannon said.

One of the tree's cousins is said to be replacing him later this year.

“He is from a different branch of the family,” the tree said of his cousin at the lighting ceremony in November.

The living Christmas tree was donated to Dover in 1985, serving as the center of Christmas festivities in the City. His cousin will take over, continuing tradition during the next holiday season.